What They’re Saying About Operation Epic Fury—April 29, 2026

U.S.

President Donald Trump | Press Interview

“The blockade is somewhat more effective than the bombing. They are choking like a stuffed pig. And it is going to be worse for them. They can't have a nuclear weapon. . . . They want to settle. They don’t want me to keep the blockade. I don’t want to [lift the blockade], because I don’t want them to have a nuclear weapon.”

President Donald Trump | Truth Social

“Iran can’t get their act together. They don’t know how to sign a nonnuclear deal. They better get smart soon!”

President Donald Trump | Remarks at State Dinner

“We’re doing a little Middle East work right now . . . and we’re doing very well. We have militarily defeated that particular opponent, and we’re never going to let that opponent ever, [King] Charles agrees with me even more than I do, we’re never going to let that opponent have a nuclear weapon. They know that, and they’ve known it right now, very powerfully.”

President Donald Trump | Truth Social

“The Chancellor of Germany, Friedrich Merz, thinks it’s OK for Iran to have a Nuclear Weapon. He doesn’t know what he’s talking about! If Iran had a Nuclear Weapon, the whole World would be held hostage. I am doing something with Iran, right now, that other Nations, or Presidents, should have done long ago. No wonder Germany is doing so poorly, both Economically, and otherwise!”

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent | X

“The Treasury Department, through Economic Fury, has targeted Iran’s international shadow banking infrastructure, access to crypto, shadow fleet, weapons procurement networks, funding for terrorist proxies in the region, and independent Chinese ‘teapot’ refineries that support Iran’s oil trade. These actions have disrupted tens of billions of dollars in revenue that would be used to fund terrorism. Under @POTUS’ maximum pressure campaign, Tehran’s inflation has doubled and its currency has rapidly depreciated. Kharg Island, Iran’s primary oil export terminal, is soon nearing storage capacity, which will force the regime to reduce oil production, resulting in an additional approximately $170 million per day in lost revenue, and causing permanent damage to Iran’s oil infrastructure. Treasury will continue to exert maximum pressure and any person, vessel, or entity facilitating illicit flows to Tehran risks exposure to U.S. sanctions.”

Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control | Alert

“The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) is alerting financial institutions to the sanctions risks of dealing with independent oil refineries in China (known as ‘teapot’ refineries), primarily in Shandong Province, given their continued key role in importing and refining Iranian crude oil, including throughout 2026. . . . financial institutions should take steps to ensure they are not facilitating transactions involving designated teapot refineries, or other teapot refineries that may be importing Iranian oil, because this may expose the financial institutions to sanctions.”

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries | X

[Quote-tweeting President Trump’s Truth Social post, “Iran can’t get their act together. They don’t know how to sign a nonnuclear deal. They better get smart soon!]

“Actually, Iran did sign a nonnuclear deal in 2015 under the leadership of President Obama. You blew it up. Then plunged America into another reckless and costly war of choice in the Middle East.”

Defense Department Rapid Response

“Tehran is using retired ships to keep loading oil as its storage space runs out. @CENTCOM’s naval blockade is working.”

Central Command

“Prior to the U.S. blockade on Iran, 5 ships were moored or anchored in the Iranian port of Chah Bahar on an average day. Today, more than 20 vessels remain in Chah Bahar as U.S. forces cut off economic trade going into and coming out of Iran during the ongoing blockade."

House Democratic Caucus Vice Chair Ted Lieu | Comments to Journalist

“I’m absolutely in favor of a lawsuit [challenging the legality of Operation Epic Fury. I believe we would have a very strong argument that we would have standing. If we don’t have standing, then it would mean that, basically, [the War Powers Act] could never be enforced.”

Sen. Richard Blumenthal | Comments to Journalist

“Legal action [to challenge the legality of Operation Epic Fury] has to be explored. [President Trump] has to be confronted with illegality, and the court is one way to do it.”

Sen. Mark Kelly | Comments to Journalist

“[Continuing Operation Epic Fury after the 60-day deadline set by the War Powers Act] would be a violation of a law that Congress passed. I would think we have standing [to sue].”

Iran

Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf | Source Unidentified

“The enemies failed to achieve their goals—from day one. . . . An entire nation has managed to thwart all these plots. Trump divides the country into two groups, extremists and moderates, and talks about a naval blockade to force Iran to surrender. The only solution to deal with the enemy’s new plot is to maintain unity.”

Europe

Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson | Press Interview

“Right now, I’m struggling to see any coherent strategy behind this.”